Tooth bleaching compositions and methods of bleaching discolored tooth

Abstract

The bleaching compositions of discolored teeth comprise titanium dioxide initiating photocatalyst action with light irradiation, chemical compounds generating hydrogen peroxide in an aqueous solution and thickening agents. Further the bleaching methods of discolored teeth comprising applying the bleaching composition onto the surface area of the teeth and then initiating photocatalyst action by irradiating the applied surfaces area with light. Therefore, the present invention shows remarkable bleaching results due to easy application of the compositions onto discolored teeth and keeping the original activity of the photocatalyst without its deterioration.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELDThe present invention relates to methods for bleaching and removing colored sediment on teeth by photocatalytic action, and tooth bleaching compositions for the methods. More particularly, the present invention relates to methods for bleaching the discolored teeth by applying the bleaching composition, comprising certain compounds having photocatalytic activity, onto the discolored teeth and then irradiating the applied area with light, and also the present invention relates to the bleaching compositions for the bleaching methods.BACKGROUND ARTRecent year, there have been increasing demand for esthetic improvements of teeth such as improvements of contours, alignment and integrity of teeth in dental therapy. In particular, there have been more cases of young women desiring such dental therapy so as to whitening teeth as an important element of beauty. Generally, the cause of dental discoloration and pigmentation or stain falls into the two categories: (1) extrinsic ca...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

So as to achieve the objectives mentioned above, the present invention utilizes titanium dioxide initiating photocatalytic action by light irradiation and tooth bleaching compositions containing a thickening agent, thereby remarkable results of discolored teeth bleaching as well as improved application ability during treatment are brought in. In the present invention, it is defined that the term of discoloration has broad meanings including pigmentation and stain.

The present invention relates to the bleaching compositions bleaching discolored teeth by applying these on the tooth surfaces and then bleaching it based on the photocatalytic action initiated by light irradiation to the applied area. The bleaching composition is characterized by combining titanium dioxide initiating the photocatalyst action with the light irradiation, the chemical compound generating hydrogen peroxide in a aqueous solution and the thickening agent. The following results are shown, therefore the contribution to esthetic improvement of the teeth by the present invention is significant:(1) Considerable improvements of bleaching treatment due to easy application of the bleaching composition on the tooth surfaces,(2) It is highly safe due to controlled scattering and / or attaching to the mucous membrane of the solution, and also due to the remarkable bleaching effects through the solution of the low hydrogen peroxide concentration,(3) Greatly shortened the bleaching time,(4) Remarkable bleaching results, and the like.

Problems solved by technology

However, the aforementioned methods have the following disadvantages: it is very difficult to apply the surfaces of teeth with enough amounts of bleaching agent, that causes to unsatisfied bleaching results.

The increased content of it interferes the photocatalytic action because titanium dioxide is non-transparent against irradiation light.